ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS ON SECURITY WATCH: PATROLLING U.S. SHORES AND PROTECTING THE HOMELAND
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ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 1
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS ON SECURITY
WATCH: PATROLLING U.S. SHORES AND
PROTECTING THE HOMELAND
Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. (ACB) of Bellingham, Washington, is instrumental in helping the
Department of Homeland Security meet the daily challenges of patrolling U.S. shores, safeguarding major
port cities, and providing border patrols, military defense operations, as well as national and local law
enforcement disaster preparedness. ACB’s aluminum boats are used to protect the U.S. coastline around-
the-clock, handling rough seas where their extruded aluminum framing provide the safety, endurance, and
high performance critical to the boats’ reliability and rapid response.
ACB's Center Console ACB’s odyssey began in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Former Congressman
patrol boat features all
extruded aluminum George Nethercutt and NAV SEA System Command brought ACB aluminum boats to the fore, declaring
framing. them “urgent mission essential” to homeland security under the U.S. Patriot Act. “The speed and
performance of these watercraft are impressive,” said Nethercutt. “Our homeland security and national
defense agencies would be well-served by these aluminum chambered boats.”
The U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Border Patrol, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Army Corps of Engineers are all using ACB
aluminum boats to fortify security on United States shores. The U.S. Coast Guard has
declared these aluminum vessels “virtually unsinkable.” U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen
(Washington State, District 2) notes, “For the communities I represent along the U.S.
land and water border, homeland security also means personal security. Companies like
Aluminum Chambered Boats make products that help keep our borders and our Fireboats like the Quantico Fire Boats are on
communities safer.” duty from coast-to-coast.
MORE
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission.
ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 2
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
Aluminum Boats Setting A New Standard
Airtight three-sixteenths-inch thick sealed aluminum chambers completely surround the craft,
forming each boat’s sides and bow while providing floatation. The quarter inch V-bottom and
boat chambers are welded to create a reverse chine, and interior extruded aluminum framing
provides key strength and rigidity. ACB boats maintain record endurance, speed, and
maneuverability, with rapid easy repair and rugged structural design.
ACB vessels, with their unique welded chamber construction, extensively use extruded
A V-shaped hull and aluminum
chambers are assembled around aluminum interior framing for its higher strength-to-weight ratio, exceptional dent resistance,
extruded aluminum framing. and light weight—30 to 40 percent less than fiberglass and 45 to 55 percent less than steel ves-
sels —translating to increased speed for equivalent horsepower, lower fuel burn, vastly reduced
operating costs, and greater cargo capacity with reduced draft relative to payload.
ACB’s Homeland Security fleet comprises the 23- to 29-foot Center Console vessel, the 23- to
29-foot Rescue Pro model, and the 23- to 29-foot DV-R model, which is used extensively by the
U.S. Border Patrol and county law enforcement.
Aluminum Chambered Boats primarily use aluminum alloys 5086 and 5052, as well as 6061 and
6063 alloy extrusions. Marine-grade 5xxx-series aluminum alloys pass stringent industry
manufacturing quality standards. They are completely rustproof, preventing corrosion in both
ACB personnel weld aluminum
extrusions to form the internal salt and fresh water and performing consistently over decades of testing. These alloys don’t
framing of the vessel. require painting above the water line and form a hard aluminum-oxide coating that helps pro-
tect the aluminum. ACB’s DV-R model for border patrols has a bright yellow painted top half
with bold NASCAR-type decals.
Extruded aluminum interior framing gives ACB boats their
framework for success. “Using extruded structural components
gives us the assurance of quality tolerances, not only for dimen-
sioning but to easily monitor alloy control through supplied
certifications,” said Rick Benson, ACB fabrication and design
superintendent. “It’s imperative that our boats are always built
The painting phase is complete on the same, ensuring the quality, safety, and dependability that
this DV-R boat’s exterior. ACB boats are known for.”
This brightly painted aluminum
patrol boat will never rust,
thanks to marine-grade
aluminum alloys.
MORE
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission.
ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 3
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
Aluminum Chambered Boats’ chamber design uses three-
sixteenths-inch-thick rolled aluminum alloy 5086 that is
bent to form the chamber, then seam welded along its
entire length using MIG (metal inert gas) welding on long
continuous welds; TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding is used
for the upper cabin assembly. Marine aluminum alloys weld
easily, with hull plating accommodating pulse MIG welding
using a computer to create controlled square wave pulses,
forming high-strength hull integrity. Newer welding equip-
ment uses less heat, minimizing distortion during joining,
resulting in faster more controlled precision welds with less
labor.
Aluminum extrusions’ unique characteristics enable
tougher hull construction to withstand impacts, achieving
nearly 30 percent greater dent resistance. Dents are eas-
ily repaired, and damaged areas are quickly rewelded in
sections, whereas fiberglass or steel can rupture severely
and may crack or fracture on impact. Repair cost effective-
ness is a major factor in keeping ACB boats in
service, with minimal downtime. Unlike flam-
mable petroleum-based resins in fiberglass
This DV-R Navy Special Warfare model awaits painting. boats, aluminum boats do not burn.
Aluminum boat chambers provide structural
compartmentalized fire protection, without
separate firefighting systems.
An ACB police boat shows its toughness
while on patrol.
For more information on aluminum extruders, request your free copy of the AEC Buyers’ Guide at mail@aec.org.
MORE
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission. © Copyright 2005, Aluminum Extruders Council.
ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 4
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
UNMANNED SURFACE VESSEL OFFERS
REMOTE-CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
ACB has partnered with International Submarine
Engineering (ISE) of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia,
Canada, to create the Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV),
the new high-tech security vessel designed for a wide
range of missions performed in harbors, rivers, near
shore, and deep ocean environments. The USV uses
ACB’s design and ISE’s proven control system, which
may be manufactured by ACB into a variety of mission-
capable unmanned surface vessels.
“The Unmanned Surface Vessel combines leading edge
technology—ACB patented hull design with a tested and
proven control system,” said Vincent A. McLeod, ACB vice
president for government sales. These two work to pro-
vide the capability of utilizing an unmanned boat in ven-
ues such as port security, mine warfare, or force protec-
tion, allowing the agency to achieve improved monitoring
The remote control Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) docks on the Mississippi and increased performance capability through technology
River while on its maiden U.S. tour. versus manpower.”
MORE
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission.
ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 5
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
The test bed USV is a 26-foot center console model, featuring air-filled spon-
sons, multiple gun mounts and weapons capabilities, and multiple
passenger/boarding team seating. The highly maneuverable USV is an
unmanned or manually operated 55 mile-per-hour-plus pursuit craft, powered
by twin 200-horsepowered V-6 outboard engines with a convertible canopy and
transportable by C-130/Airlift. The USV has toured U.S. shores, demonstrating
its prowess along the eastern seaboard, the Texas gulf coast, San Diego Bay,
and along the west coast back to its home in Washington State.
Swiftness and maneuverability are
hallmarks of ACB’s patrol vessels.
Left to right: This high-tech security control terminal aboard the USV can be operated manually, or via remote control for many different
types of missions. • A laptop computer is a key part of the USV terminal station. • An omnidirectional antenna and video cameras are
perched atop the USV. • This Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna and receiver relay are key elements of the USV’s control system.
The USV’s Tactical Command Kit adds capabilities via UHF, VHF, and satellite communications (SATCOM) through
all the boat’s performance/speed ranges, including manual or remote control, with on-the-fly shift at the
controller’s discretion; mission-specific sensor package includes radar, forward looking infra-red (FLIR), infra-red
display system (IRDS), cameras, low light TV, sensor detects biological and chemical agents (called SNIFFER),
radiation detection, and biologic detection. Towed or fixed sonar may also be used. Clear, detailed data is
facilitated with a gyro-stabilized system.
MORE
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission.
ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SHOWCASE ALUMINUM CHAMBERED BOATS—page 6
Aluminum Chambered Boats On Security Watch Unmanned Surface Vessel Offers Remote-Control Technology
Aluminum Extrusion and Aluminum Chambered Design
Combine for Unbeatable Performance and Reliability
ACB’s patented aluminum chambered design is rendered in boat configurations from 23 to
30 feet long for government, commercial, and recreational markets. ACB also supplies
complex, multi-purpose workboats to the U.S. Marines Bridge Erection fleet. In rugged
The U.S. Marine Corps and many
government agencies rely on ACB
seas testing, aluminum chambered boats consistently demonstrate significant fuel savings,
watercraft for safety and performance reduced maintenance, safe performance, and high-speed response in demanding situa-
at high speeds and under mission- tions. Remarkably, aluminum extruded ACB boats exhibit life cycles three to four times
critical conditions.
longer than conventional fiberglass boats.
Design modifications to extruded aluminum boats make it easy to relocate bulkheads,
customize cabins, and adapt equipment mountings by cutting, welding, drilling and bolting.
CAD software allows hull design to be implemented at competitive cost, even with short
production runs.
Aluminum chambered boats, with
their extruded aluminum framework, “ACB boats are, and will continue to be, an integral part of homeland security forces
are declared by the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the U.S. Our boats, with their virtually unsinkable factor, smooth ride, low
to be “virtually unsinkable.”
maintenance, and fast response, provide a perfect candidate to supply the nation’s border
patrol forces, county police departments, and port security agencies with the most work-
able platform available,” said Timothy A. Kolb, ACB government/commercial sales manager.
As the Department of Homeland Security continues to expand and implement new tech-
Vigilance is the watchword for U.S.
nologies and greater manpower to protect U.S. shores. ACB’s boats, with their strong and
Border Patrol crews engaged in vital extruded aluminum framing, will continue to provide a vigilant watch from coast-to-
preventing drug and arms smuggling, coast, helping those who serve and protect the freedom and safety of our citizens.
illegal entry across U.S. borders, and
on the lookout for terrorist
activities.
For more information on aluminum extruders, request your free copy of the AEC Buyers’ Guide at mail@aec.org.
Watch for more extruded aluminum application stories in future issues! Contact mail@aec.org to share an application story, provide feedback,
or request a free subscription to this bimonthly Showcase. We encourage you to share this Showcase with anyone you feel will be interested.
View past issues in the Extrusion
Applications section at www.aec.org.
ALUMINUM EXTRUDERS COUNCIL • 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214 • Wauconda, IL 60084 USA • Tel. 847/526-2010 • www.aec.org
Photos: © Photos courtesy of Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. Used with permission.
© Copyright 2005, Aluminum Extruders Council.
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